Notification method that guarantees a system manager discovers an SNMP agent

ABSTRACT

A method for a guaranteeing a network manager discovers SNMP agents on a communications network. Each SNMP agent transmits a trap to the network manager. The trap contains the network manager&#39;s IP address and the SNMP agent&#39;s identifying information, including its IP address. When the trap is received at the network manager, it is parsed for the agent identifying information, which is compared against a list of previously identified/discovered agents. If the agent identifying information is not found, i.e., if the agent is a newly discovered agent, the network manager adds the agent to the list of discovered agents. The agent is then registered/stored in the discovered agents file. When the trap does not include sufficient identifying information, the network manager sends a query to the agent to extract additional identifying information. The system manager is thus able to discover all connected agents without broadcasting a query message.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

This invention relates to communications networks, and in particular toa method for discovering SNMP agents on a communication network. Stillmore particularly, the present invention relates to a notificationmethod which guarantees that a system manager discovers SNMP agents on acommunications network.

2. Description of the Related Art

The technological development of communication networks is increasing ata fast pace. Network developers are continually searching for moreefficient ways to complete network processes. A typical network consistsof a web-like set of communication links to which are connected aplurality of agents. Agents on a network may be either a hardware devicesuch as a router or a software application running on a processorsystem. Agents have traditionally been homogenous; however as networksbecome more complex, agents are becoming more and more heterogenous. Asnetwork complexity increases, it becomes more difficult to determinewhich agents are connected to the network.

A network could be a collection of voice, video, or data processingdevices connected by communication lines. The method of transmission onthe network is also key to determining the speed of transmission. Mostpresent network connections utilize the Transmission ControlProtocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) as their transmission medium. Theagents connected to these networks, in turn, utilize a Simple NetworkManagement Protocol (SNMP), and are referred to as SNMP agents.

Networks are thus managed by a network management tool or networkmanager. A network manager is connected to one of the links of thenetwork and utilized to monitor and manage the network's links, agents,and network functions. To provide effective management, the networkmanager must therefore be aware of which agents are connected to thenetwork in order to efficiently monitor the agent processes.Additionally, a network manager needs management information about thenetwork to help conceptualize the network and call attention to adversechanges in a fast and accurate manner.

Agent discovery process is therefore one important element to considerin the design of a network and the network manager. When a new agent isconnected or a previously connected agent is reconnected, the networkmanagement station has to be made aware of the presence of the agent. Astandard approach in discovering SNMP agents by a system manager is tobroadcast a query message over the network and wait for acknowledgment.U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,933,416 and 5,835,720 utilize this broadcast query andacknowledgment method. This standard approach floods the network withits broadcasting message. Also, with this method, some SNMP agents mayrespond and some may not for various reasons. As a result there is noguarantee that all agents will be discovered.

Most current networks are configured with TCP/IP. The network managementprotocol of TCP/IP is Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP). InSNMP, agents, which can be hardware as well as software, monitor theactivity in the various devices on the network and report to the networkmanager. Control information about each device is maintained in amanagement information block.

Another prior art method utilizes a simple polling approach to gathernetwork information. This method has severe problems in wasting networkbandwidth, as described in Rose, “The Simple Book,” p. 76, EnglewoodCliffs, N.J. Prentice Hall Inc. This is of special concern in wide-areanetworks where recurring transmission line expenses directly affect thecost of network operation. Bandwidth used by management traffic comes atthe expense of user bandwidth. Even in broadband networks, such as ATMnetworks, minimizing management bandwidth usage is a concern.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,909,549 describes a method which allows the SNMP manageddevice (agent) to register with a Network manager by generating andtransmitting a frame. The process of transmitting the frame continuesuntil the management station responds with another frame acknowledgingreceipt. That system further has a timer which determines when a followup frame should be sent if the frame acknowledging receipt is not sentto the managed device. Like the traditional methods, this method resultsin a clustering of network resources with management frames utilizingvaluable bandwidth. Also, the method requires a user to send aproprietary form of frame (trap) to communicate with the network managerand involves a series of unnecessarily complicated handshakes tocomplete the process. Further this method is system specific, i.e., itdoes not allow the discovery of different types of agents as inheterogenous networks. Further, like other prior art methods it resultsin a low success rate of discovery.

To build and continuously update a reliable network, information must becollected from each network node. The challenge is to do this in realtime without adversely consuming network bandwidth, while increasing thesuccess rate of agents discovery.

The present invention recognizes that it is advantageous to have amethod and system for efficiently discovering an SNMP agent on a networkwithout using significant amounts of bandwidth or incurring thepotential errors of the broadcast query and acknowledgment method. Thepresent invention substantially reduces or eliminates the potential forerrors by having the agents themselves notify the network manager andthus increasing the success rate of discovery.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore one object of the present invention to provide animproved communications network.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improvedmethod for discovering SNMP agents on a communications network.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a methodfor efficiently discovering SNMP agents on a communications network byhaving the agents notify the network manager directly.

The foregoing objects are achieved as is now described. A method for aguaranteeing a network manager discovers SNMP agents on a communicationsnetwork is disclosed. Each SNMP agent transmits a trap via network linksto the network manager. The trap contains the network manager's IPaddress and the agents identifying information, such as its IP address.When the trap is received at the network manager, it is parsed for theagent identifying information, which is compared against the list ofpreviously identified/discovered agents. If the agent identifyinginformation is not found, which indicates that it is a newly discoveredagent, the network manager adds the agent to the list of discoveredagents on the network. The agent is then registered/stored in thediscovered agent file. When the trap does not include sufficientidentifying information, the network manager sends a query to the agentto extract additional identifying information. The system manager isthus able to discover all connected agents over a period of time withouthaving to broadcast a query message or unnecessarily flood the networkwith traffic.

The above as well as additional objects, features, and advantages of thepresent invention will become apparent in the following detailed writtendescription.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The novel features believed characteristic of the invention are setforth in the appended claims. The invention itself however, as well as apreferred mode of use, further objects and advantages thereof, will bestbe understood by reference to the following detailed description of anillustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a data processing system utilized in accordancewith a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagram of a communications network utilized in accordancewith one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a diagram of a registration graphical user interface (GUI) forentering agent identifying information, etc. during agent notificationin accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a logic flow chart of the process of receiving and analyzing atrap at the network manager in accordance with a preferred embodiment ofthe present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention guarantees with a high degree of confidence that anetwork management tool (network manager) discovers SNMP agentsconnected to the network. With reference now to the figures, and inparticular with reference to FIG. 1, there is depicted the basicstructure of a data processing system 20 utilized in one embodiment ofthe invention. Data processing system 20 has at least one centralprocessing unit (CPU) or processor housed in casing 32. CPU is connectedto several peripheral devices, including input/output devices such as adisplay monitor 96, keyboard 82, graphical pointing device 84, andprinter 100 for user interface. Also housed in casing 32 are a permanentmemory device (such as a hard disk) for storing the data processingsystem's operating system and user programs/applications, and atemporary memory device (such as random access memory or RAM) that isutilized by CPU to implement program instructions. CPU communicates withthe peripheral devices by various means, including a bus or a directchannel (more than one bus may be provided utilizing a bus bridge).

Data processing system 20 may have many additional components which arenot shown such as serial, parallel, and USB ports for connection to,e.g., modems 92 or CD ROM 78. In the preferred embodiment of theinvention, communication to the data processing system 20 is madepossible via modem 92 connected to a land line or wireless telephonesystem which is in turn connected to a local communications networkprovider such as an Internet Service Provider (ISP). Additionally, dataprocessing system 20 may be connected to a network via anethernet/network card or adapter 90. Communicated data arrives at themodem or network card and is processed to be received by the dataprocessing system's CPU or other software application.

Those skilled in the art will further appreciate that there are othercomponents that might be utilized in conjunction with those shown in theblock diagram of FIG. 1; for example, a display adapter connected toprocessor might be utilized to control a video display monitor 30, and amemory controller may be utilized as an interface between temporarymemory device and CPU. Data processing system 20 also includes firmwarewhose primary purpose is to seek out and load an operating system fromone of the peripherals (usually permanent memory device) whenever thedata processing system is first turned on. In the preferred embodiment,data processing system contains a relatively fast CPU along withsufficiently large temporary memory device and space on permanent memorydevice, and other required hardware components.

Conventional data processing systems often employ a graphical userinterface (GUI) to present information to the user. The GUI is createdby software that is loaded on the data processing system, specifically,the data processing system's operating system acting in conjunction withapplication programs. In one embodiment of the invention, a GUI isutilized during the registration process on the agent, as will bedescribed with reference to FIG. 3 below.

Modem 92 can be utilized to connect data processing system 20 to anon-line information service or an Internet service provider. Modem 92 isone method of connecting data processing system to the network of thepresent invention. Modem 92 may also provide a connection to othersources of software, such as a server, an electronic bulletin board(BBS), or the Internet (including the World Wide Web).

The implementation of the present invention preferably occurs on anumber of data processing systems, i.e., the network manager discoveryfunctionality and SNMP agent notification functionality are completedwith a data processing system. It is understood however, that othertypes of data processing systems are possible, which may have some ormore of the basic components described above. Additionally, thoseskilled in the art understand that the term ‘agent’ as utilized hereinis not limited to a data processing system.

Referring now to FIG. 2, a network 10 is illustrated in which featuresof the invention may be implemented. In this example, four nodes 11, 12,13, and 14, are illustrated in the network. These nodes are alsoreferred to as nodes n1, n2, n3, and n4. Each node is a network device,often a computer, i.e., a data processing system which is capable ofexecuting various tasks and processes, including that of sendingmessages to other nodes and responding to messages from other nodes.This network 10 may be of any one or a mixture of various networktechnologies, including token nng, Ethernet, point-to-point, satellitelinks, etc. There is usually some type of defined path or link betweeneach node 11-14 and each one of the other nodes that is in the network,and this linkage is represented by the network connection links 15 ofFIG. 2. The connection links 15 may be constructed using anycommunication medium commonly used in networks, e.g., buses betweencomputers, telephone lines, T1 trunk connections, satellite links, orother such links. The network 10 of FIG. 2 may be what is generallytermed a local area network (LAN) or wide area network (WAN), orcombinations of LANs and WANs; the principles herein described could beused in a local area network interconnected by Ethernet or token ringtechnology, or others as maybe suitable. Each one of the nodes 11-14 isusually connected to other nodes or terminals (workstations, desktopcomputers, printers, system resources, etc.), not shown, by local areanetworks or the like, and it is of course understood that a typicalnetwork in which the invention is useful may have a large number ofnodes, spread over sites that may be local or separated by longdistances. The network preferably supports or utilizes TCP/IP as itstransmission protocol. Those skilled in the art are familiar with TCP/IPand its functionalities.

Connected to the nodes 11-14 are various network resources 16, which mayconsist of printers, bulk storage facilities, processing devices,communications links to other networks, name servers, or servers ofvarious types. These network resources are accessible by all nodes inthe network, in the usual practice. Each of the nodes 11-14 and networkresources 16 has a status which can be reported to a network manager 21,as by a local (network) agent 17. In the preferred embodiment, localagent 17 and network manager utilized a Simple Network ManagementProtocol (SNMP) in the discovery process. The local agents 17 aretherefore hereinafter interchangeably referred to as SNMP agents.

The nodes 11-14 have applications software 18 executing thereon. Forexample, a node 12 may have a network interface program running on it,for sending and receiving network traffic (messages) using variousprotocols. A user of the SNMP agent 17 for this node is thus able toplace addressing information and other types of information in a SNMPtrap, which can be transferred on the network by standard SNMP filetransfer methods.

According to one feature of the invention, a network manager station 21is employed, shown here connected to n1-node 11. The network manager 21is illustrated as a workstation or computer terminal having a systemunit 22, a monitor 23, and a keyboard 24. Within system unit 22 arehardware and software components that carry out the various networkmanagement functions including receiving the notification traps,determining whether the traps contain sufficient identifying data,updating the list of discovered agents, maintaining the list of agents,and sending a query from manager station 21 directly to an agent 17whose discovery trap does not contain sufficient identifying data. Thesehardware components include modem 90 and the software components includenetwork management software code 28, which operates on the operatingsystem (OS) and firmware layer 25 to control the required hardware. Ofcourse, the network manager 21 may be a task executing on the samecomputer that executes the nl-node 11, for example. Only one networkmanager 21 is shown, but other nodes in the network 10 could befunctioning separately as network managers. The network manager 21includes an applications program executing on a platform or generalpurpose processor, and has the functions of (1) executing networkoperator commands, i.e., those issued by a “user” or human operator, (2)communicating with the managed network 10 by messages, ordinarily usingpacket technology, (3) retrieving management information from othernodes, via the communication links, using messages, such as inquires andresponses, (4) presenting the status and/or topology of the network ingraphical form such as on the monitor 23 or by printed output, and (5)otherwise to display or present network status information. Each ofthese functions is performed using technology which is not treated here.The functions are specifically tailored to the invention to permitefficient discovery of agents on the network. The information generatedby the network manager 21 can be made available to other managementfunctions such as accounting, connection, performance, etc. As mentionedabove, in the preferred embodiment, the network manager 21 and localagents 17 use the SNMP described in detail by Marshall T. Rose, “TheSimple Book,” Prentice-Hall, 1991, which is hereby incorporated byreference. Software for local agents 17 conforming to SNMP standards iscommercially available, and agent source code is available; e.g., asource code SNMP development kit is available from M.I.T. Laboratory forComputer Science, Cambridge, Mass.

Thus, each one of the nodes 11-14 has a special management applicationcalled an “agent” running locally, illustrated by SNMP agents 17 in FIG.2. The main functions supported by an agent are: (1) maintain real timemanagement information related to the resources and networking functionsof its own node, locally, (2) receive messages from and send messages tothe network manager 21, (3) respond to requests for informationretrieval from the network manager 21, via these messages, and, inaccordance with the preferred embodiment, (4) emit unsolicitednotifications (traps) when defined events such as setup occurs.

In a preferred embodiment, the network manager 21 is not required toestablish a connection with each local agent 17 in order to exchangediscovery/notification information. The network manager 21 is externalto the network, i.e., it could be connected to the network 10 via acommunications link to one of the nodes. Thus, one of the nodes isassigned as the gateway—in FIG. 2 the n1-node 11 is the gateway fornetwork manager 21—and the path 26 can be a bus connection, or aconnection by a LAN, or the like, i.e., this connection need not bedirect. All communication between the manager 21 and the agents 17 mustgo through the gateway n1-node 11, via path 26 and the links or trunks15. If this gateway fails, another node may be activated to take over,but there is only one gateway in a network at any one time for a givennetwork manager. Other network managers (not shown) may use the same ordifferent nodes as gateways. The network manager monitors the networkfor the occurrence of traps from an agent on the network addressed tothe network manager.

An agent application 17 is typically activated as part of the start-upprocedure of its network node 11-14; however, it may be stopped andreactivated anytime independent of the network manager 21. It also doesnot require any information about the manager 21 except its IP address.The job of the agent 17 is to make a set of supported managementinformation available to the manager 21. Specifically, in the presentinvention, the agent is responsible for alerting the manager of itspresence on the network. In the preferred embodiment, the agents 17connected to the network may be of varying types, thus creating aheterogenous network. The discovery process works just as well with eachtype of agent.

Configuration information such as network node address is required bythe network manager 21 to establish connection with each agent 17. Tothis end, a name server (or database) 27 is available as a resource tothe manager 21, as by a task operating on the nl-node 11, although itcould be anywhere accessible to the manager 21 on the network. The nameserver 27 maintains a database of the name and address of eachpotentially-active/discovered node or resource on the network. Thus thepresent invention permits the manager to receive unsolicitednotifications from agents 17. The present invention recognizes the factthat the accuracy and reliability of current network systems is almost100% and therefore, no confirmation message is required from the networkmanager to the agent. This allows the invention to be implemented withvery little additional congestion to, or use of, bandwidth on thenetwork due to manager-generated control messages/frames. In the eventthe network becomes unreliable and causes a notification trap to belost, the invention allows the agent to be discovered the next time theagent sends a trap. Those skilled in the art appreciate that differentforms of traps are occasionally sent from the agent to the networkmanager. These traps are typically sent to alert the network manager ofthe occurrence of certain events such as a failure on the network orchanges to the configuration of the agent.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the network managerfunctions of the invention are software implemented. The softwareincludes monitoring and discovery algorithms which further effectuatethe discovery of agents upon receipt of notification traps. The softwareis further able to access the database (name server) of discoveredagents as discussed above. The software is installed on PC servers,which may be centralized. Also, in the preferred embodiment of theinvention, the agent is made to notify the network manager during setup,ensuring the discovery of the agent at as early a time as possible.Typically, during setup, a user enters (or is prompted to enter) the IPaddress of the network management tool. The user of the agent thusforces a trap to register the agent. The trap may be a coldstart trap(i.e., a trap created and transmitted when the agent is first being setup on the network), or a test trap, or any other type of trap and istransmitted to the network manager with the entered information. Theforced trap then notifies the discovery process of the network managerthat the SNMP agent is up and running. As a result, the network manageris virtually guaranteed to discover the agent.

The network manager's discovery method operates with all system types.SNMP agents are one of these device types. FIG. 3 illustrates a GUIutilized to enter the relevant addressing and agent identificationinformation included in the notification/discovery trap. In thepreferred embodiment of the invention, no specific entry is required foridentifying the agent. When a trap is created and sent to the networkmanager, it automatically contains the IP address of the agent. Thenetwork manager then checks the IP address against its database ofdiscovered/registered IP addresses, as will be discussed in furtherdetail below. In an alternative embodiment, as depicted in FIG. 3, theagent identifying information may be entered within the GUI. Use of theterm agent identifying information may refer to the IP address as in thepreferred embodiment, or the host name of the server/node and isunderstood to refer t o both embodiments unless otherwise specified. TheGUI is depicted on a screen 30 of a monitor 90 of a computer system.Four input areas are illustrated on the GUI. These include the systemmanager's IP address 305, the agent's identifying information 307, whichis typically its IP address, the agent's host name 312, and two otheridentifying information blocks 309 and 310. In the lower right comer ofthe GUI is a transmit button 311. Selection of this transmit button 311by a user after entering the required information, instantiates thetransmittal to the network manager of the trap with the enteredinformation. Thus in the preferred embodiment, the system is registeredwith its IP address.

In the preferred embodiment which utilizes the agents' IP address in thediscovery process, when the trap does not contain any identifyinginformation, such as its host name, the system manager may send out aquery to the network to get the host name of the system which sent thetrap. Additionally, when the trap does not include sufficientidentifying information, the system/network manager sends a query to theagent to extract additional identifying information. These arepoint-to-point transmissions, utilizing little network bandwidth. Theunderlying transmission mechanisms of TCP/IP and SNMP are well know tothose skilled in the art and will not be described herein. Those skilledin the art will also appreciate that there are alternative methods ofcreating the notification trap (i.e., entering required information fortransmission) and instantiating the transmission via the network'sconnecting links, and that these alternate methods all fall within thescope of the invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates the process of receiving a notification trap andregistering the corresponding agent according to the invention. Theprocess begins (step 401) when the network manager is activated. Networkmanager's discovery process monitors the network for traps (step 403).The network manager listens to a port and receives the SNMP packets (andor traps) transmitted to it over the network. It then analyzes areceived trap to determine if it is a notification trap (step 405). Ifthe received trap is not a notification trap, the network managercontinues to monitor the network until a notification trap is received.When a notification trap is received, network manager separates (i.e.parses out) the IP address or other identifying information (step 407).The network manager then compares the identifying information against adatabase of previously discovered agents (step 409). A comparison ismade to determine if the agent information has been previously received(step 411), i.e., to determine if the agent was previouslyregistered/discovered on the network. If the agent's IP address or otheridentifying information is found in the database, then no action isrequired and the process terminates with respect to that agent; however,if the agent's IP address or other identifying information is not found,then the agent is added to the database of discovered agents (step 413)and the process terminates with respect to that agent (step 415). Theprocess therefore allows for the recording of newly discovered agentswithout unnecessary broadcast queries over the network.

The database may be stored internally or externally but is immediatelyaccessible to the network manager. Typically, a preliminary list ofknown agents connected to the network are manually entered into thedatabase by network management personnel when the network manager isfirst activated. This database is read-writable, thus allowing for it tobe dynamically updated as agents are added to or deleted from thenetwork.

In the preferred embodiment, the trap is sent when the SNMP agent isbeing set up, i.e., a coldstart trap. However, other types of traps maybe sent at different times besides setup to complete the notificationprocess. The network manager is designed to recognize different types ofagent without any proprietary limitations. This discovery system ofnon-proprietary, heterogenous agent types is an important aspect of theinvention.

It is important to note that while the present invention has beendescribed in the context of a fully functional data processing system,those skilled in the art will appreciate that the mechanism of thepresent invention is capable of being distributed in the form of acomputer readable medium of instructions in a variety of forms, and thatthe present invention applies equally, regardless of the particular typeof signal bearing media utilized to actually carry out the distribution.Examples of computer readable media include: nonvolatile, hard-codedtype media such as read only memories (ROMs) or erasable, electricallyprogrammable read only memories (EEPROMs), recordable type media such asfloppy disks, hard disk drives and CD-ROMs, and transmission type mediasuch as digital and analog communication links.

While the invention has been particularly shown and described withreference to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood by thoseskilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be madetherein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A network, comprising: a network manager; aplurality of agents coupled by connecting links to said network managereach agent being capable of sending a notification trap to said networkmanager via said connecting links; means for transmitting saidnotification trap from said agent to said network manager, said meansbeing instantiated by a user of said agent and utilizing said connectinglinks, wherein the transmission of said notification trap is completedwithout said network manager issuing a broadcast message on the networkto solicit said notification trap, and network bandwidth utilized in anotification process is reduced; means for receiving said notificationtrap at said network manager; means for said network manager to extractidentifying information of said agent from said notification trap,wherein said means includes: means for determining when saidnotification trap contains sufficient identifying information; and meansfor sending a query on said network from said network manager directlyto said agent to extract an identifying information from said agent whensaid notification trap fails to include sufficient identifyinginformation; means for comparing said identifying information with alist of previously recorded identifying information to determine whensaid identifying information has not previously been received; andmeans, responsive to said comparing means, for adding said identifyinginformation to said list when not previously received, thus recording adiscovery of said agent on said network.
 2. The network of claim 1,wherein: said connecting links are Transmission ControlProtocol/Internet Protocol (TCPIP) links; and said means fortransmitting said trap utilizes a Simple Network Management Protocol(SNMP), wherein said agent is an SNMP agent.
 3. The network of claim 2,wherein said transmitting means includes means for said user to enter aTCP/IP address of said network manager and said identifying informationin said notification trap.
 4. The network of claim 3, wherein: saididentifying information is a host name of said agent; said transmittingmeans includes means for automatically transmitting an IP address ofsaid agent in said trap; and said comparing means compares said IPaddress against a list of previously discovered IP addresses.
 5. Thenetwork of claim 2, wherein one of said connecting links is apoint-to-point link.
 6. The network of claim 2, wherein saidtransmitting means transmits in a broadcast packet environment.
 7. Thenetwork of claim 2, wherein said receiving means includes means formonitoring said network at said network manager for an instance of saidnotification trap.
 8. The network of claim 1, wherein said notificationtrap is a coldstart trap.
 9. A method for efficient discovery by anetwork manager of an agent on a network, said method comprising thesteps of: transmitting a notification trap from said agent to saidnetwork manager, said transmission being instantiated by a user of saidagent, wherein the transmission of said notification trap is completedwithout said network manager issuing a broadcast message on the networkto solicit said notification trap, and network bandwidth utilized in anotification process is reduced; receiving said notification trap atsaid network manager; extracting identifying information of said agentfrom said notification trap, wherein said extracting step includes:determining when said discovery trap contains sufficient identifyinginformation; and responsive to said determining step, sending a query onsaid network from said network manager to said agent to extract anidentifying information from said agent when said discovery trap failsto include sufficient identifying information; comparing saididentifying information with a list of previously recorded identifyinginformation to determine when said identifying information has notpreviously been received; and responsive to said comparing step, addingsaid identifying information to said list when not previously received,thus recording a discovery of said agent on said network.
 10. The methodof claim 9, wherein said transmitting step includes the step of creatingsaid trap.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein said creating stepincludes the steps of: prompting a user to enter a series ofinformation, including an IP address of said network manager and saididentifying information; and configuring said entered information into aformat capable of being transmitted over said network.
 12. The method ofclaim 11, wherein: said identifying information is a host name of saidagent; said transmitting step includes the step of automaticallytransmitting an IP address of said agent in said trap; and saidcomparing step compares said IP address against a list of previouslydiscovered IP addresses.
 13. The method of claim 9, wherein: saidnetwork is configured with Transmission Control Protocol/InternetProtocol (TCP/IP) links; said transmitting step utilizes a SimpleNetwork Management Protocol (SNMP), wherein said agent is an SNMP agent;and said transmitting step transmits a coldstart trap.
 14. The method ofclaim 9, wherein said receiving step includes the steps of monitoringsaid network at said network manager for an instance of saidnotification trap.
 15. A computer program product for efficientdiscovery by a network manager of an agent on a network, said computerprogram product comprising: a computer readable storage medium; programinstructions on said storage medium for: receiving a notification trapat said network manager transmitted from said agents wherein the networktrap is one that is generated at said agent and transmitted by saidagent independent of said network manager, wherein further saidnotification trap is generated without said network manager broadcastinga message on the network soliciting said notification trap; extractingidentifying information of said agent from said notification trap,wherein said program instructions for said extracting step includesprogram instructions for: determining whether said discovery trapcontains sufficient identifying information; and responsive to saiddetermining step, sending a direct query on said network from saidnetwork manager to said agent to extract the identifying informationfrom said agent when said discovery trap fails to include sufficientidentifying information; comparing said identifying information with alist of previously recorded identifying information to determine whensaid identifying information has not previously been received; andresponsive to said comparing step, adding said identifying informationto said list when not previously received, thus recording a discovery ofsaid agent on said network.
 16. The computer program product of claim15, wherein: said identifying information is a host name of said agent;said program instructions for said extracting step includes the step ofextracting an IP address of said agent from said trap; and said programinstructions for said comparing step compares said IP address against alist of previously discovered IP addresses.
 17. The computer programproduct of claim 15, wherein: said network is configured withTransmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) links; saidprogram instructions for said receiving step receives said trap via aSimple Network Management Protocol (SNMP), wherein said agent is an SNMPagent; and said program instructions for said receiving step includesprogram instructions for receiving a coldstart trap generated at saidagent during initial set up and power-on of said agent.
 18. The computerprogram product of claim 15, wherein said program instructions for saidreceiving step includes program instructions for monitoring said networkat said network manager for an instance of said notification trap.